Chapter 28

After Bai Siyi and Huo Xingming finished eating, it was already getting late. Bai Siyi walked out of the restaurant. The live stream had long since ended, and now they were on their own time.

Bai Siyi took out his phone, opened a bike-sharing app, and turned to ask Huo Xingming, “Did you contact the show’s staff to come pick you up?”

Huo Xingming shook his head. “No. Did you?”

Bai Siyi walked over to a shared bicycle while holding his phone. “I don’t need to. I live nearby. I can just ride a bike home.”

Huo Xingming looked at Bai Siyi standing next to the bicycle, then glanced at the dark street. He walked over and said, “But it’s already past nine. Isn’t it unsafe for a girl like you to ride alone?”

Bai Siyi gave him a strange look. “Not really.”

There were still plenty of people on the street, and he had walked this route by himself many times before.

For some reason, though, Huo Xingming seemed to be thinking differently tonight. He pulled out his phone and started scanning for a shared bike. “I’ll take you home first.”

Bai Siyi frowned. “No need—”

But Huo Xingming had already downloaded the app, logged in, and scanned the bike. “How can I not? This is what a gentleman is supposed to do.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

With no other choice, Bai Siyi could only let Huo Xingming ride along with him. They pedaled slowly in the direction of the Pink Cabin.

On the way, Huo Xingming hesitated before saying, “Bai Siyi.”

Bai Siyi: “What?”

Lowering his voice, Huo Xingming asked, “Why do you owe so much money? Can you talk about it? If you can’t, it’s okay. I’m not forcing you.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

He looked at Huo Xingming’s awkward expression and said, “Of course I can say. Didn’t I already tell you? I’m a fan.”

Huo Xingming wasn’t fully convinced. After spending the past few days with Bai Siyi, he felt that Bai Siyi didn’t seem like the type to get into massive debt over idol fandom.

Bai Siyi was frugal and rational—he didn’t seem like someone who would do something so reckless.

So Huo Xingming asked again, “Are you still into it now?”

Bai Siyi nodded. “Of course! Once I get paid in a couple of days, I’m going to buy my idol’s photocard from his birthday event. I’ve been wanting it for so long! As soon as I get my salary, I’m buying it.”

In reality, Bai Siyi had bought photocards before, but that was back in elementary and middle school. He had purchased character cards of his favorite voice actors. They weren’t expensive—about a hundred yuan per card.

As for celebrities? He had never actually been into idol fandom.

Huo Xingming frowned. “What’s a photocard?”

Bai Siyi explained, “It’s a small official card made from my idol’s selfies. Some even have autographs, but those are more expensive. I can only afford the unsigned ones, and even those are limited edition. Just one can cost several thousand.”

Huo Xingming: “…”

He was completely shocked. “But your salary is only four thousand, isn’t it?”

Owing so much money, yet instead of saving up to pay off debts, he was actually planning to spend his salary on something like this?

Riding against the night breeze, Bai Siyi turned to look at Huo Xingming and smiled slightly. “Yep. That’s why someone like me—you should’ve blocked me from the start. But it’s fine, you can still do it now.”

Huo Xingming: “…”

Alright, alright, so after all this talking, was he just trying to get him to block him?

Huo Xingming pressed his lips together. For some reason, he suddenly felt irritated, like something was stifling him.

Bai Siyi liked that so-called “brother” so much. Even though he was already broke, he was still spending money on photocards. If he ever became successful, would he chase idols in person?

And with how good-looking he was, wouldn’t he actually succeed?

An image flashed through his mind—Bai Siyi in a beautiful little dress, hugging some handsome guy. Huo Xingming frowned so hard he could probably crush a fly between his brows.

Pressing his lips together, Huo Xingming stubbornly said, “I wouldn’t block you over something like this.”

He snorted. “I get idol-chasing. After all, I also follow pretty streamers. Your photocard costs a few thousand? When I tip, I throw out millions in one go. I just love giving money to streamer jiejies so they can buy little dresses.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi shot him a glare. If Huo Xingming hadn’t mentioned it, he might’ve let it slide. But now that he did, it made him furious.

He wasn’t sure if he was more angry about the million Huo Xingming had spent on tipping or about how he treated beautiful female streamers as his emotional support, throwing money at them the moment he had a little extra.

Gritting his teeth, Bai Siyi suddenly lifted his foot and kicked the front wheel of Huo Xingming’s bike.

Startled, Huo Xingming let out an “Ah! Ah! Ah!” nearly crashing into the bushes by the sidewalk.

Bai Siyi, fuming, snapped, “You don’t have to take me home. I’ll go by myself.”

With that, he sped up and pedaled away.

Huo Xingming: “…”

Huo Xingming wasn’t happy either. He pushed harder on the pedals and chased after him. “How come you agreed just now but changed your mind? Do you have no sense of consistency? I’m taking you home whether you like it or not. Mind your own business!”

Bai Siyi kept a straight face, ignoring the noisy Huo Xingming.

Huo Xingming grumbled as he kept up. “Bai Siyi, you actually kicked me! What grudge do you have against me? How could you treat me like this? Do you know how much that hurt me?”

Bai Siyi, expressionless: “I don’t.”

Huo Xingming pointed at him. “You’re cold and heartless!”

Bai Siyi stole his line: “You’re being unreasonable!”

Huo Xingming: “…”

Huo Xingming slapped his handlebars. “Hey! You stole my line!”

Bai Siyi rolled his eyes and stopped responding to this elementary schooler.

The two of them fell silent for several minutes.

Neither of them knew exactly what they were sulking about, but after their conversation, both of their moods had taken a turn for the worse.

Huo Xingming kept glancing at Bai Siyi from time to time.

Since childhood, aside from his own mother, he had never voluntarily lowered his pride to apologize to anyone.

Even though he had no idea why Bai Siyi had suddenly gotten angry—let alone why he had kicked him—his instincts told him that maybe… he should apologize?

But why should he?!

He was the one who got kicked!

With resentment written all over his face, Huo Xingming glanced at Bai Siyi every few seconds.

The more he looked, the more his thoughts began to drift.

He had to admit, Bai Siyi really did look better the longer he stared, and somehow, he fit more and more into his ideal type.

Even though Bai Siyi was a girl, his features were on the more androgynous side. When he wore a baseball cap with his hair down, he looked like a girl. But back at the amusement park, when he had tied his hair up while playing around, he had looked just like a boy.

As for his figure…

Hiss!

Huo Xingming’s eyes widened in shock. Huh?

How could someone not only have such boyish facial features but even a body shape that looked just like a guy’s?

If Bai Siyi wore a loose T-shirt, tied his hair up, and put on a cap, wouldn’t he completely look like a boy?

The more Huo Xingming thought about it, the faster his heart raced.

Thump, thump. His heart pounded louder and louder, until—

Bai Siyi suddenly turned his head in shock and shouted, “Huo Xingming, watch out!”

Before Huo Xingming could react, he heard a loud “bang”—he had crashed straight into a tree.

Huo Xingming: “…”

Bai Siyi quickly got off his bike and ran over to help him. “What’s wrong with you? Are you okay?”

Fortunately, they were on a non-motorized lane with railings and trees on both sides. Otherwise, if he had fallen onto the main road, it would have been a disaster!

Dazed, Huo Xingming got up. Bai Siyi checked him over, and once he confirmed that he was fine, he got angry again and kicked him. “Were you not looking at the road?! What the hell were you looking at?! That was so dangerous!”

Huo Xingming: “…”

Being met with Bai Siyi’s fierce glare, his ears instantly turned red. He rubbed his nose and lowered his head, avoiding eye contact. In order to cover up his embarrassment, he bent down to pick up his bike, silently listening to Bai Siyi scold him for not paying attention to the road.

He was so flustered that he completely forgot to protest about getting kicked again.

After a few more scoldings, Bai Siyi noticed that Huo Xingming wasn’t talking back. He hesitated for a moment, suddenly realizing that he might have been too worked up just now.

They weren’t even close friends, yet he was yelling at him like this… maybe he had overstepped.

Letting out a sigh, Bai Siyi got back on his bike and said, “Move to the inner lane.”

He was worried that if Huo Xingming spaced out again and fell into the main road, it would be game over.

Huo Xingming was feeling guilty now and didn’t dare say anything. He silently pushed his bike to the other side, following behind Bai Siyi and riding at a slow pace. This time, he didn’t even dare to ride alongside Bai Siyi, afraid that he wouldn’t be able to resist stealing glances at him again.

But Huo Xingming was someone who just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Whatever came to his mind, he blurted out without thinking. He said, “Bai Siyi, it’s not that late yet. How about I treat you to a movie?”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi stopped and looked at him in surprise. “A movie? Now?”

Huo Xingming avoided Bai Siyi’s gaze guiltily. “Y-Yeah? It’s not even ten yet.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Seeing Huo Xingming’s dodgy eyes and the redness creeping up his ears, Bai Siyi had a bad feeling.

Could this guy… actually be interested in him?

That would be a problem.

Suddenly, Bai Siyi started feeling a little nervous too.

After a two-second pause, he said, “If you really want to watch a movie, I should be the one treating you.”

Huo Xingming regretted his words the moment they left his mouth.

He was gay—he liked men. Just because he found Bai Siyi attractive and realized he looked quite androgynous didn’t mean he should be feeling things for him!

No matter what, Bai Siyi was still a girl, which didn’t fit his orientation.

Wait… could it be that he wasn’t a completely firm gay?

Could he actually be bisexual? Interested in both men and women?!

Huo Xingming: “!!!”

The thought scared him so much that he instinctively covered his mouth with his hand.

Terrifying.

At the same time, Bai Siyi was also feeling conflicted. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts, leading to a long silence.

Bai Siyi pedaled forward, leading Huo Xingming through a turn and down a main road to an old plaza park.

Someone was screening a movie in the plaza, with plenty of chairs set up around. A few elderly people who had come out for a night stroll were sitting and watching.

On the screen, a classic Hong Kong movie was playing. Bai Siyi found a spot, parked his bike, and said to Huo Xingming, “Didn’t you want to watch a movie? Come on.”

Huo Xingming looked at the outdoor movie screen, then at the elderly people sitting around, and silently parked his bike as well.

Bai Siyi chose two chairs at the back row, and the two young men sat among a group of elderly people, eyes fixed on the movie.

Huo Xingming glanced around at the older folks, then at Bai Siyi.

The elderly woman sitting next to him had turned her head and was staring straight at him.

Huo Xingming felt a chill run down his spine under the old lady’s intense gaze. He silently scooted his chair over—so close that he was practically pressed against Bai Siyi.

Bai Siyi, squeezed by this big guy, nearly slid off his chair.

Just as he was about to fall, Huo Xingming instinctively reached out and grabbed Bai Siyi’s waist, holding him steady in time.

Caught off guard, Bai Siyi was suddenly wrapped in Huo Xingming’s warm hands. His face flushed bright red as he immediately shot up from his seat, staring at Huo Xingming in extreme discomfort. He lowered his voice and asked, “What are you doing?”

Why was he suddenly grabbing his waist?

Even if Huo Xingming liked him, wasn’t this moving way too fast?!

Bai Siyi’s waist was sensitive, and the spot where Huo Xingming had held him still tingled slightly, as if his warmth had been left behind, lingering.

Huo Xingming was just as embarrassed!

His entire hand had gone stiff, and he was so flustered he didn’t know what to do. “I-I-I just…”

He stammered so much that he couldn’t even finish his sentence.

The old lady beside them, however, let out a hearty laugh and said, “Oh, little girl, what else could he be doing? He likes you, of course! He just wanted to hold you.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Huo Xingming: “!!!”